From July 7 to 9, second staff talks were held in the Russian Federation on the organization and conduct of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) command-and-staff exercise “Interaction-2026”, the special reconnaissance exercise “Poisk-2026”, and the logistics support exercise “Echelon-2026”.
In accordance with the 2026 Action Plan of the Coordinating Council of Heads of the Competent Authorities for Countering Illicit Drug Trafficking of the CSTO Member States, and as part of the Russian Federation's priorities during its 2026 CSTO Chairmanship, the sub-regional counter-narcotics operation “Kanal – Amber Coast” was conducted from June 29 to July 3, 2026. The operation was aimed at disrupting trafficking routes for narcotic drugs, their precursors and analogues, new psychoactive substances, and potent substances into the CSTO area of responsibility, neutralizing international transnational drug trafficking groups, dismantling clandestine drug production facilities, undermining the economic foundations of the drug trade, including the laundering of drug proceeds.
The 12th Southern Information Security Forum “Infoforum Sochi 2026” is taking place in Sochi, Russia, from June 30 to July 3. On July 1, the Forum's plenary session brought together representatives of federal and regional authorities, regulatory bodies, leading companies, and international organizations to discuss current challenges in the protection of critical infrastructure, the development of artificial intelligence, and international cooperation.
On June 30 – July 1, 2026, Saint Petersburg hosted a series of events chaired by Alexander Kurenkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, with the participation of heads of the competent authorities of the CSTO member states responsible for emergency prevention and response.
From June 24 to 26, 2026, CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov paid a working visit to the Republic of Tajikistan at the personal invitation of President Emomali Rahmon.
6th meeting of the CSTO Coordinating Council on Biological Security held in Saratov
02.06.2026
From June 1 to 3, Saratov (Russian Federation) is hosting a series of events involving the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization aimed at strengthening the collective response system to biological threats.
The central event of the first day was the 6th meeting of the Coordinating Council of the Authorized Bodies of the CSTO Member States on Biological Security, chaired by Head of Rospotrebnadzor and Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation Anna Popova. The meeting was attended by representatives of relevant ministries and agencies of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as the CSTO Secretariat.
During the meeting, participants exchanged assessments of the biological situation in the CSTO area of responsibility and approved the Action Plan of the Coordinating Council for 2026–2028.
The members of the Coordinating Council agreed on a draft document establishing a CSTO Basic Organization for Research on Biological Security Issues. It is proposed that this status be granted to the Microbe Anti-Plague Research Institute of Rospotrebnadzor.
An important outcome of the meeting was the approval of a draft joint assessment of the biological security situation within the CSTO framework, which will help develop a comprehensive understanding of risks and determine future priorities for collective action. The participants also considered a proposal by the Russian side and the CSTO Secretariat regarding the development of a conceptual document on the advancement of the biological security system of the CSTO member states in the medium term.
The 7th meeting of the Coordinating Council is scheduled to take place in Saint Petersburg in December 2026.
On the same day, Anna Popova officially opened the First Conference with International Exercises of the CSTO Member States on Response to Biological Threats and delivered opening remarks. Welcoming addresses were also delivered by Governor of the Saratov Region Roman Busargin, CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov, and Director of the Microbe Institute Vladimir Kutyrev.
During the first plenary session, heads of the national delegations to the Coordinating Council presented reports on the biological security situation in their respective countries. CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov also addressed the participants, focusing on the CSTO’s activities at the present stage and emphasizing the need to further strengthen comprehensive cooperation among member states in the field of biological security.
The exercises, which began on June 2, involve more than 100 specialists from sanitary and epidemiological services and health ministries of the CSTO member states. The exercises will continue through June 3. In field conditions, the teams are practicing rapid logistics, information exchange, biological risk assessment, and risk management in response to a simulated outbreak of a particularly dangerous infectious disease.
The exercises are supported by multifunctional mobile laboratories operated by Rospotrebnadzor, including those of specialized anti-epidemic teams, mobile detection and monitoring laboratories, and portable mobile laboratory units. These facilities are capable of independently conducting up to 1,000 tests per day directly at outbreak sites. Today, the CSTO member states collectively possess more than 100 such mobile laboratories equipped with modern Russian-made equipment.
The events being held in Saratov clearly demonstrate the shared commitment of the CSTO member states to deepening cooperation and strengthening the collective biological security system.
